Congress president Sonia Gandhi today condoled the demise of actress Reema Lagoo, whom she described as a "versatile actor".

"A household name, Lagoo was a versatile actress who portrayed an array of heart warming characters on screen and had always left a lasting imprint on the hearts and minds of the viewer," she said in a statement.

Gandhi also expressed her solidarity to the family and friends of the departed actor in this hour of grief.

The actor, best known for playing the modern-day Bollywood mother in films such as "Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!" and "Kal Ho Na Ho", passed away at a hospital in Mumbai today. She was 59.

Lagoo, who came to represent the antithesis of the mournful white sari-clad mother of Hindi cinema through her roles, died of a cardiac arrest in the early hours of the morning at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

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